Tracking connection for vehicles.



No. 642,394. Patented m. 30,1900.

L. WATKINS. TRACKING CONNECTION FOR VEHICLES.

(Application filed June 5, 1899.]

(No mum.

STAT S PATENT OFFIc TRACKING CONNECTION FOR V EHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,394, dated January 30, 1900. Application filed June 5, 1899. Serial No. 719,444. (No model.)

My invention comprises the novel features which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is an inverted plan view of my device in use upon vehicles. Fig. 2 is a detail showing the manner of connecting one of the rods hereinafter described with the axle, and

Fig. 3 is a similar detail view of the form of connection which is used in certain other places.

The object of my invention is to connect the axle of a vehicle or'the adj acentaxles of two vehicles so that all of the wheels will track that is, run in the same trackwhether going straight ahead or turning corners.

The form of vehicle to which my invention is applied is immaterial, although it has been especially designed for application to vehicles which are used in connection with tractionengines or other forms of power-driven vehicles, or to a train of wagons such as used in the western part of the United States for haulingheavy freight. The vehicles as herein shown are such as have the axles mounted toturn upon a king-bolt, as is done in connection with the forward axle of an ordinary wagon.

The device may be used to connect two ordinary wagons, and while not making all the wheels track perfectly will make them track more nearly than is usually the case.

In Fig. l the axle A is the forward axle of the vehicle, and the axle B the rear axle. I have herein shown the forward wagon as being provided with a tongue H, which is secured to the forward axle, so that the wagons are steeredin the usual manner by the team. It is, however, evident that the particular form of steering mechanism used for guiding the first wagon is immaterial, as my invention pertains to the manner of connecting the axles of the wagonor of wagons connected in a train. I

Upon each end of the axles A and B are socured clips D, one of which is shown in side elevation in Fig. 2. These clips have ears d at each end thereof, which receive a pivotpin G,to which connecting-bars E are secured. The bars or rods E are provided at each end with a swivel connection with a clevis F or F F as the case may be. The rods E are preferably made of pipe having a plug welded or otherwise secured in each end thereof. The ends of these rods are provided with peripheral grooves e, which receive a pin 6, which passes through the stem of the clevis F, or F F thus holding the two against longitudinal movement, but permitting rotative movement. The clevis F, as shown in Fig. 2, has two arms engaging the inner surfaces of the ears (1 upon the clip D and provided with holes receiving the pivot-pin G. The rods E extend diagonally beneath the bed 0 of the wagon and are connected to clips upon the opposite ends of the adjacent axles. In order to prevent interference of the two rods with each other where they cross, the rods are secured to the clevis at a point offset from the center thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. In placing the two rods in place one rod will have its clevis reversed from the position shown in Fig. 2, said rod thus being raised, so that it-passes clear of the other rod.-

In order to assure a flexibility in the connection between adjacent wagons which will permit them to run over elevations and depressions in the roads without binding, the rods which connect adjacent wagons are preferably provided on at least one end with a clevis having a pivot-jointtherein such as shown in Fig. 3. In this view the clevis is shown as consisting of two parts F and F the part Fbein g adapted to receive the pivot pin G and the part F receiving the end of the rod E. use rod E is secured to the part F of the clevis in the manner previously described, consisting in forming a peripheral groove e in the rod and inserting a pin 6' through the clevis and into said groove. The

two parts F and F are connected with each other by means of a horizontal pivot f, so that the rods may bend in a vertical plane as the wagons pass over inequalities in the road.

This method of connecting the wheels of a wagon or of connecting adjacent wagons will permit them to pass around curves of any practical radius and yet with an assurance that the wheels will accurately track. In hauling freight over rough mountain roads, where the width of the track is limited and frequent curves are necessary, it is often a matter of considerable importance to have the wagons track, as such hauling is frequently done with a team consisting of alarge number of animals, and more than one wagon is drawn thereby.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A wheel-tracking connection for vehicleaxles, comprising two rods having clevises swiveled upon their ends and connected with opposite ends of adjacent axles, substantially as described.

2. A trailing or tracking attachment for vehicles, comprising two rods having clevises swiveled at each end and also provided with a hinged joint, and means for pivotally attaching the clevises to opposite ends ofthe.

as described.

LEIGH WATKINS. Witnesses:

GEO. M. STINGLEY, CARRIE M. BOOTH. 

